How to build a balanced pick & mix bag

A balanced pick & mix bag combines flavour variety, texture contrast, and thoughtful selection to create a satisfying mix of lollies for any occasion. Whether you’re preparing party favours, filling goodie bags, or simply creating a personalised selection of your favourite treats, the best mix brings together different tastes and textures.

At Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, pick & mix is part of a much larger passion for confectionery. With more than 43 years of experience in the industry, Tom’s has continued to evolve its range and bring new ideas to lolly lovers. This commitment to innovation also led to the creation of Dr Sugar, Tom’s own confectionery brand, launched in 2025.

Whether you are exploring the in-store pick & mix experience in Brisbane or Melbourne, or building your selection online with Dr Sugar products, this guide explains how to create a pick & mix that feels balanced, varied and enjoyable.

What is a pick & mix bag and how does it work?

A pick & mix is a personalised assortment of loose confectionery chosen according to your own preferences. Instead of buying pre-packed sweets, you can combine different types of lollies and candy to create a selection that suits your tastes.

At Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, the pick & mix experience is available in-store in Brisbane and Melbourne, where customers can:

• Choose from a wide selection of lollies and confectionery
• Combine different flavours, colours and textures
• Add a variety of products to the same container
• Include a selection of different lolly types, as well as chocolate options
• Weigh their container at checkout

The in-store pick & mix range includes products from Dr Sugar alongside other confectionery brands, giving customers the opportunity to explore a broad variety of treats.

Online, the experience is different. Tom’s online Pick & Mix range is made exclusively with products from Dr Sugar, allowing customers to build their own personalised selection from Tom’s growing in-house confectionery brand.

Meet Dr Sugar: innovation behind the online pick & mix range

Dr Sugar was created in 2025 as part of Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse’s ambition to bring more innovation, creativity and control to its confectionery offering.

After more than four decades in the industry, Tom’s wanted to take its iconic brand to the next level by developing its own confectionery products. Dr Sugar was born from the idea that the confectionery industry needed fresh ideas, new trends and a more innovative approach to creating treats.

The brand takes inspiration from Albert Einstein and the idea of genius thinking. The goal behind Dr Sugar is to approach confectionery with creativity and innovation while developing products that respond to both customer expectations and market trends.

Dr Sugar already offers an extensive and growing range of confectionery, including:

• Gummies
• Sour lollies
• Jelly beans
• Chocolates
• Lollipops
• And many other types of confectionery

With hundreds of different products and multiple ranges manufactured across several countries, including Australia, Dr Sugar gives Tom’s the opportunity to develop new ideas and introduce fresh confectionery trends to the Australian market.

When building a Pick & Mix container online, every product in the selection comes from the Dr Sugar range.

Why people love pick & mix

Pick & mix is appreciated for its flexibility and the freedom it gives customers to create something completely personal.

Customisable

You choose the types of lollies that go into your mix. You can focus on your favourite flavours or experiment with products you have never tried before.

A variety of flavours and textures

A good pick & mix container can combine fruity, sour, sweet and chocolate flavours alongside soft, chewy and crunchy textures. An assorted selection of gummies, sour lollies and other candies can make every container feel more varied.

Perfect for events and celebrations

Pick & mix is a popular option for party favours, party containers, wedding favours and themed celebrations. It can also be used to create personalised favour bags or colourful candy bags for guests.

A fun way to discover new products

For Tom’s, Pick & Mix is also an opportunity to explore the wide world of confectionery. This is particularly relevant to the growing Dr Sugar range, which is designed to bring fresh ideas and innovative products to customers.

Flexible for different budgets

By choosing the quantity and products that go into your container, you can create a selection that suits your budget and occasion. This flexibility can be especially useful when preparing multiple party favour bags or other treats for a celebration.

Top ideas for building a balanced pick & mix bag

A great pick & mix container includes a combination of different flavours, textures and lolly types. Rather than filling the entire container with similar products, try creating contrast between your selections.

Here are some popular categories to consider.

1. Gummies: soft and chewy

Gummies can provide a soft and chewy base for your mix. Gummy candy is available in many flavours, colours and shapes, making it ideal for adding variety to a container.

Try combining different fruity flavours and shapes to create a colourful foundation for your selection. Gummy bears are also a classic option when building a fun and varied pick & mix container.

2. Sour lollies: add a tangy kick

Sour lollies create contrast with sweeter products and can help prevent a pick & mix container from becoming too one-dimensional.

Adding a few sour candy options alongside gummies and other sweet treats can create a more varied flavour experience.

3. Chocolate: rich and smooth

Chocolate is another way to add contrast to a pick & mix container. Instead of focusing on specific chocolate products, you can simply combine different classic chocolate styles, such as:

• Milk chocolate

• Dark chocolate

The smooth and rich texture of chocolate can balance fruity, sour or chewy confectionery and create a more rounded selection.

4. Jelly beans: small but full of flavour

Jelly beans are an easy way to introduce a variety of flavours without taking up too much space in your container.

Because they are available in many colours and flavour profiles, they can also add visual variety to a pick & mix selection.

5. Lollipops and other classic lollies

Including a few different lolly types can make your pick & mix container feel more diverse. A lollipop or other classic confectionery options can add another layer of variety to the mix.

A balanced pick & mix example

There is no single formula for the perfect pick & mix container, as the best combination depends on personal taste. However, a balanced selection could look something like this:

• 40% gummies and chewy lollies for a soft and fruity base
• 20% sour lollies to add contrast
• 20% chocolate, including milk chocolate or dark chocolate options
• 10% jelly beans or smaller confectionery for extra flavour variety
• 10% classic or novelty treats, such as lollipops

This approach creates a mix with different flavours and textures while leaving plenty of room to personalise the selection.

How to choose the right mix

When deciding how to build your pick & mix container, consider the following elements.

Flavour

Try mixing different flavour profiles:

• Sweet and sour
• Fruity and chocolatey
• Mild and intense

A combination of different flavour experiences can make the container more enjoyable than choosing only one type of confectionery.

Texture

Texture is just as important as flavour. Consider combining:

• Soft gummies
• Chewy lollies
• Smooth chocolate
• Smaller confectionery such as jelly beans

This variety can make every handful of your pick & mix feel different.

Colour

If you are creating a pick & mix container for an event, colour can also influence your selection. Bright colours work well for birthdays and children's celebrations, while a more coordinated colour palette may suit weddings, baby showers or seasonal events.

For example, pastel colours can work particularly well for a baby shower, while pink candy or white candy may suit a specific party theme.

Occasion

Different occasions can inspire different combinations:

• Birthday parties: colourful gummies, sour lollies and fun shapes
• Weddings: a more coordinated selection with chocolate and carefully chosen colours
• Baby showers: soft colours and playful confectionery
• Halloween: sour and colourful treats or halloween candy
• Corporate events: customised colour combinations and a varied confectionery selection
• Christmas: festive colours and seasonal flavours
• Easter: a mix of chocolate and colourful confectionery

Age group

Think about who will be enjoying the container.

For children, colourful products, soft textures and fun shapes may be particularly appealing. For adults, a combination of chocolate, sour lollies and classic confectionery can create a more nostalgic and varied selection.

Budget

Pick & mix gives you flexibility over how much you buy and which products you choose. This makes it easier to adapt your selection to the size of an event, the number of guests or the purpose of the container.

It can also be a practical alternative when you need an assorted selection for multiple gift bags, party bags or party favours without purchasing large quantities of pre-packed confectionery.

Building your pick & mix at Tom’s

Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse offers two different ways to enjoy Pick & Mix.

In-store pick & mix

Visitors to Tom’s stores in Brisbane and Melbourne can explore a large selection of confectionery and build their own container by choosing from the products available on the pick & mix wall.

The range includes Dr Sugar products alongside other confectionery, allowing customers to discover different types of lollies, flavours and textures in one place. It is a different experience from choosing a pre-packed snack, as customers can create their own combination according to their preferences.

Online pick & mix with Dr Sugar

For customers shopping online, Tom’s Pick & Mix range is exclusively made up of Dr Sugar products.

This makes the online Pick & Mix experience an opportunity to explore Tom’s own growing confectionery brand while creating a personalised selection. From gummies and sour lollies to jelly beans, chocolate, lollipops and other treats, Dr Sugar offers a broad range of options designed to bring variety and innovation to the confectionery experience.

How to use your pick & mix bag

Pick & mix bags are suitable for many occasions:

• Birthday parties: Fill goodie bags or create take-home treats.
• Weddings: Build personalised wedding favours or wedding candy selections.
• Baby showers: Create colourful confectionery bags for guests.
• Corporate events: Choose colours or products that suit the event.
• Seasonal celebrations: Adapt your mix for Halloween, Christmas, Easter or Valentine’s Day.
• Gifting: Create a personalised gift bag based on someone's favourite flavours and textures.
• Everyday snacking: Simply build a selection of treats you enjoy.

Pick & mix can also be used as part of a larger candy buffet or displayed in jars and other containers for parties and celebrations.

FAQ

How do I build a balanced pick & mix container?

Start with a base of gummies or chewy lollies, then add contrast with sour products, chocolate and smaller confectionery. Try to include a variety of flavours and textures rather than choosing too many similar products.

What types of products can I find in a pick & mix selection?

Depending on the available range, you may find gummies, sour lollies, jelly beans, chocolates, lollipops and many other types of confectionery.

Is the online pick & mix range different from the in-store experience?

Yes. Tom’s in-store Pick & Mix range includes Dr Sugar products alongside confectionery from other brands. The online Pick & Mix range is exclusively made up of Dr Sugar products.

What is Dr Sugar?

Dr Sugar is Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse’s own confectionery brand, created in 2025. The brand focuses on bringing new ideas, innovation and a growing range of confectionery products to the market.

Can I use pick & mix for party favours?

Absolutely. Pick & mix is a flexible option for goodie bags, favour bags, party favours and other personalised treat bags.

Conclusion

Building a balanced pick & mix bag is all about creating variety. Combining sweet and sour flavours, soft and chewy textures, and classic chocolate options such as milk chocolate and dark chocolate can help create a more interesting and enjoyable selection.

At Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, Pick & Mix is also part of a broader passion for discovering, developing and sharing great confectionery. With more than 43 years in the industry, Tom’s continues to build on its iconic history while looking towards the future through Dr Sugar, its innovative confectionery brand.

Whether you visit the Pick & Mix wall in Brisbane or Melbourne, or create your selection online from the Dr Sugar range, you can experiment with different flavours, textures and confectionery styles to build a mix that is uniquely yours.